Giannoulias Introduces Comprehensive Government Reform and Transparency Proposal

Press Release

Plainly stating that the way Washington works is not adequate to meet the challenges facing our country, Illinois Treasurer and Democratic nominee for Senate Alexi Giannoulias today put forth a comprehensive government transparency and ethics reform package designed to eliminate the influence of corporate special interests. Giannoulias pointed to the tortuous path recent reform legislation has traveled, including the Wall Street overhaul, and singled out his Republican opponent, Mark Kirk, as a career Congressman steeped in the ways of Washington - where votes are exchanged for campaign contributions.

"The problem with Washington isn't that there's a lack of ideas on how to create jobs, or how to invest in clean energy, or how to invest in our schools," Giannoulias said. "The problem is that those ideas are killed in committee or on the chamber floor because too many politicians live to serve their campaign contributors rather than their constituents."

In particular, Giannoulias pointed to the process of passing meaningful Wall Street reform, which was uncertain even in the midst of the worst financial crisis in 70 years. Last week, the New York Times reported that at least eight lawmakers are under investigation by a Congressional ethics panel for taking disproportionately high contributions from the financial sector shortly before last December's House vote on reform. Over the same period, Congressman Kirk took in nearly $50,000 from the financial sector, nearly double the amount received by any of the lawmakers included in the Times story, before voting against reform.

"The economic wreckage is staggering: more than 8 million jobs lost; unemployment hovering above 10 percent; and in the year 2008 alone, American households lost $11 trillion, 18 percent of their wealth," Giannoulias said. "Surveying this damage, it seems like it should be a no-brainer to make Wall Street reform a priority - to make sure nothing like this ever happens again. But in Washington, the outcome was in doubt until the very end…Only in Washington would even the idea that reform is necessary be in doubt."

Giannoulias' proposal is broad in scope, targeting both the influence of corporate special interests, and the Washington culture that is so receptive to it. Indeed, in addition to outlawing campaign contributions from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists, Giannoulias is proposing that members of Congress be prohibited from becoming lobbyists after leaving the public payroll. He also targets earmark reform, as well as a swift move to undo the damage of the Citizens United decision, which promises to increase the influence of corporate special interests rather than lessen it.

The entire plan is available here:
http://www.alexiforillinois.com/issues/reforming-washington

Giannoulias, who signed an executive order on his first day in office effectively banning pay-to-play by prohibiting campaign contributions from those who have business with the Treasurer's office, is the first Senate candidate in Illinois history to refuse to take contributions from corporate PACs and federal lobbyists. Congressman Kirk, by contrast, has taken in over $3 million from these sources.

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